Cadel Evans (BMC) proved that he is back to his best by winning the third stage of the Tour Down Under in solo fashion. We have already posted several reactions from the main actors and have gathered a few more below.

Addy Engels (DS Giant-Shimano whose best rider was Simon Geschke in 19th)

“The team did a great job today, looking after Simon and putting him in a great position at the bottom of the climb. He started climbing in fifth place but didn’t have the legs to follow when Evans attacked. Tomorrow should be a good opportunity for us and Marcel Kittel, we will go away now to have a look at the finish and make a plan.”

Adam Hansen (leader mountains classification, 4th on the stage, 13th on GC +0.33)

"I wasn’t so good, actually. BMC set a high pace on the climb and I went hard too early but I was still with the big names in the first group. Now I hope for a good GCat the end of the Santos Tour Down Under, that’s my priority."

Fabrizio Guidi (DS Team Tinkoff-Saxo whose best rider was Rory Sutherland in 6th)

"The boys did a beautiful stage where they put Rory in position for the finale and he managed to stay in the chase group just behind Evans. Our Danish neo-pro Valgren also did an impressive stage in which he finished just shortly after the chase group and he even delivered some solid support for his teammate."

Michael Valgren (Tinkoff-Saxo, 23rd on the stage, 91st on GC +10.05)

"We worked together to keep Rory out of trouble and it is really great to see that people are all dedicated when we change out plans. Everybody agree totally and sacrifice themselves completely. I have got better legs during the race and that is nice after a tough start. It is my first WorldTour race and it is fantastic to ride alongside riders like Cadel Evans, Richie Porte, Jens Voigt and others that I have always admired. But the most important is that we work together as a unit and I really love the atmosphere on the team."

Laurent Biondi (DS Ag2r-La Mondiale whose best rider was Maxime Bouet in 28th)

"We were really unlucky on this stage. With 20km to go, Sebastian [Turgot] was in around 15th position with Maxime [Bouet] on his wheel and the team had gathered themselves around them. Unfortunately, he slipped in a corner and both crashed. Axel [Domont] worked hard to help Maxime return. It required a big effort to finally get to the back of the bunch with 12km to go, on the last downhill section while the fight between the favourites had already begun.

"It's a shame because Maxime is riding really well and without this crash, he would have finished near the front. The team deserved better in light of their efforts since the start of the Tour Down Under. Now it will be difficult to get back into the top 10. We must stay vigilant tomorrow and then try to change things on Saturday."

Andriy Grivko (Astana, part of the early breakaway, 113th on the stage, 86th on GC +9.07)

“I tried to win the stage – me and Voigt and two other guys were riding strong and we got a good 2-minute gap on the peloton – I was taking bonus seconds in the sprints thinking that if I got caught on the hill but finished top-5, top-10 I could shake up the GC. But the teams caught us at the bottom of the climb and there was nothing I could do to go with the leaders.”

Dmitry Konyshev (DS Katusha whose best rider was Egor Silin in 12th)

"We knew that climb very well – before the race we were here, learned it, so we knew what to expect and what to do to reach our goal. Before the climb started, the team did a perfect work to bring Egor in front, so he was able to get a place among the leaders and to finish in this group just behind Evans. I am very satisfied with the result; the things are going as planned so far. We still have a hard stage with anuphill finish, where we will fight for a good result. In general, the stage was ok for us, all riders feel good, and we did not have any problem."

Kenny Elissonde (FDJ, best young rider, 17th on the stage, 18th on GC +1.01)

"This was very hard. We rode so fast before the Corkscrew climb. But my team-mates positioned me very well even though it was a short climb and not exactly to my taste. It shows the trust they have in me, so the jersey I get now belongs to the team more than to myself. This is not high mountains, so I’m not in my comfort zone, but that’s how I can improve my cycling."

Yvon Madiot (DS FDJ whose best rider was Anthony Roux in 14th)

"It's a shame. Kenny [Elissonde] and Anthony [Roux] were less than 50 metres behind the first group. With good teamwork, they were perfectly placed at the bottom of the climb and didn't miss much. The climb was almost like a sprint, even though they had to use the small chain ring in two or three turns. It is very special... Well, it's frustrating but at the finish the guys were satisfied. They found their legs and were able to work together throughout the day. That includes Geoffrey Soupe who rode for Kenny but finished the stage just 30 seconds behind him. What I have seen is rather encouraging."

"I noticed that it took two or three days for my riders to find their rhythm. That said, we are happy and worked well. Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier crashed but he is not too bad, he is just a little sore. Tonight, Anthony is 15th on GC and Kenny is 18th. It will be difficult to get into the top 10 unless there is a real fight on Saturday in Willunga."

Bruno Vicino (DS Lampre-Merida whose best rider was Diego Ulissi in 3rd)

"Today's stage was particularly insidious because the climb was suitable for riders with a lot of power and after the top there was no time to get back. For this reason, we were all very focused on Ulissi and tried to bring him in a good position at the bottom of the ascent. Diego climbed regularly, managed himself well ahead of the sprint and got a good result which is important for the general classification.

 
"Tomorrow the stage will on paper favour the sprinters. The team will work for Ferrari, also to try to pay him back for all the work he has done to help his teammates these last few days."

Henk Vogels (DS Drapac whose best rider was Robbie Hucker in 26th)

"Travis [Meyer] got caught with about 10km before the bottom of the climb. One of our better climbers, Wes Sulzberger punctured when the peloton was hitting 80km/h and Will Clarke stopped and gave him a wheel – he got there before I did. He tried to get back on but the bunch was just going too fast.

"Robbie Hucker finished in the second group but a couple of the boys’ lights went out on the climb. It was a good ride by the team today.

"Travis was fantastic. When we heard Jens Voigt was coming we told Travis to ease up and wait for him. Getting caught at the bottom of the climb it’s a good day out for the boys in red."

Robbie Hucker (Drapac, 26th on the stage, 27th on GC +1.18)

"The stage was just so fast. It was probably 20kms to the climb and it was full gas. We just tried to keep it all together and stay in good position. I got pulled up as we turned left and I just had to use a lot of effort to get up to the guys. It was pretty much a case of where ever you went over the top of the climb was where you finished. A minute behind the leaders isn’t too bad. I would have liked to be a bit further up. There’s always another day.

"Coming down the Gorge you can’t really do much about a puncture; the cars can’t get in quick enough. I think Will [Clarke] gave Wes [Sulzberger] his wheel which was pretty good of him. It was another tough day."

Travis Meyer (Drapac, part of the day's breakaway, 121st on the stage, 102nd on GC +14.05)

"I was the first to roll off the front and it took a while before anyone wanted to come with me so I was a bit worried that I would be out there by myself. We had a good group of four with Andriy Grivko and Jens Voigt. It was a pretty hard day out there and we really tried our best there towards the end but it’s pretty hard when you only get given two-and-a-half minutes."

Dave Sanders (DS UniSA whose best rider was Jack Haig in 25th)

"It wasn't a great day for the team but it wasn't bad either. 

"That [the weather] is as things are at this time of the year, it is hot and energy sapping – but it's the same for everyone so it's a toughness thing and you just have to deal with it and get through it.

"There is no question the Corkscrew offers a challenge and today the best climber stood up and took it on. It was nice to see Cadel Evans back in form, it's great for him and great the race. He stood up and rode away. I personally didn't think he would get that much of a time gap but he did and good on him he is a real champion."

"I need to see how we are travelling and what we can achieve – we may go for one of the classifications – such as Young Rider depending on how we stack up. Otherwise tomorrow does offer a challenge for Caleb Ewan, another opportunity to have a go at what will be a big fast sprint finish."